Weird

[Xenophon]

I went back to what I think was the initial use, and I'd say that it's likely how it's morphed (even by him).

A fair callout, I think. The power of "weird" for me was in succinctly calling out the most egregiously intrusive parts of the GOP platform and Project 2025 but the internet obviously does its own thing. I can't tell how much of my concern over the shifting approach is legitimate and how much is indicative of me turning into a grumpy old man.

[honorentheos]

I went back to what I think was the initial use, and I'd say that it's likely how it's morphed (even by him).

A fair callout, I think. The power of "weird" for me was in succinctly calling out the most egregiously intrusive parts of the GOP platform and Project 2025 but the internet obviously does its own thing. I can't tell how much of my concern over the shifting approach is legitimate and how much is indicative of me turning into a grumpy old man.

I feel similarly. Initially I appreciated seeing something stick that drew attention to how out of sync the MAGA agenda is with just about everything the country has stood for including conservativism. But as it's become used more and more to take shots at the people themselves I find myself missing Michelle Obama's wisdom regarding going high when the other side goes low. I suppose those words were idealistic. Still.

[Morley]

I think it's difficult to separate the strictly personal from the political. Whenever we try to do this, we have a difficult time defining what the line should be. For instance, JD Vance in a Halloween costume, as a woman, should mean nothing. However, Vance made it relevant (and kind of funny) because of his subsequent stands on gay marriage and drag queens.

As I type this, I can't help but think of the Second Wave Feminist slogan: "The personal is political." In many ways, I think that they were right.

[Kishkumen]

Jesus. Trump claimed he had a bigger crowd than MLK.



- Doc

Bizarre.

[Moksha]

Trump is steadily getting deeper into his alternative realities. If Joe Biden were doing this Republicans would be screaming dementia.

[Xenophon]

I think it's difficult to separate the strictly personal from the political. Whenever we try to do this, we have a difficult time defining what the line should be. For instance, JD Vance in a Halloween costume, as a woman, should mean nothing. However, Vance made it relevant (and kind of funny) because of his subsequent stands on gay marriage and drag queens.

As I type this, I can't help but think of the Second Wave Feminist slogan: "The personal is political." In many ways, I think that they were right.

I'm certainly not immune to the argument that Vance (and GOP politicians at large) have opened themselves up to this and we're really just seeing the return volley. Their hypocrisy certainly makes for an easy target. I guess for me I just worry that if we aren't careful we could potentially find ourselves in a world where both parties are 100% style over substance and that we may lose a little bit of ourselves along the way. The internet is always going to do its mocking thing, and maybe this is just too idealistic, but I like to see politicians rising above that.

Generically I always worry that when we get into appearance mocking we run the risk of: I mock physical trait of someone I don't like>Someone I do like with similar physical trait sees that mocking and takes it personally (a very understandable take). Politics may indeed be deeply personal but for me that just means I need to take extra care with how I present my arguments and the language I use. I'm certainly not without fault on this front either, I've definitely wished to walk back plenty of comments in my life.

[Dr Exiled]

I think it's difficult to separate the strictly personal from the political. Whenever we try to do this, we have a difficult time defining what the line should be. For instance, JD Vance in a Halloween costume, as a woman, should mean nothing. However, Vance made it relevant (and kind of funny) because of his subsequent stands on gay marriage and drag queens.

As I type this, I can't help but think of the Second Wave Feminist slogan: "The personal is political." In many ways, I think that they were right.

I'm certainly not immune to the argument that Vance (and GOP politicians at large) have opened themselves up to this and we're really just seeing the return volley. Their hypocrisy certainly makes for an easy target. I guess for me I just worry that if we aren't careful we could potentially find ourselves in a world where both parties are 100% style over substance and that we may lose a little bit of ourselves along the way. The internet is always going to do its mocking thing, and maybe this is just too idealistic, but I like to see politicians rising above that.

Generically I always worry that when we get into appearance mocking we run the risk of: I mock physical trait of someone I don't like>Someone I do like with similar physical trait sees that mocking and takes it personally (a very understandable take). Politics may indeed be deeply personal but for me that just means I need to take extra care with how I present my arguments and the language I use. I'm certainly not without fault on this front either, I've definitely wished to walk back plenty of comments in my life.

I think we are already there and have been for some time. Remember Willy Horton? Clinton came back with it's the economy stupid, hitting one of the most important issues, the pocketbook. However, Bush II kinder and gentler b.s. went back to the nonsense. I remember the media posed the question over and over again about who would you like to have a beer with, essentially painting Gore as weird. I liked Kerry and though he won and thought that he should have fought over the Ohio results a lot harder. Gore should have fought over Florida, too. He won there and thanks to our S.C. stepping in ... well the rest is history.

The donor class doesn't want the campaigns to be about what the people really want: a bigger percentage of the economic gains, less war and better roads, schools, etc. Sure, they pay lip-service to these issues at times, but, war spending is always passed with an overwhelming majority and the latest Netanyahu visit to congress spoke volumes.

[Xenophon]

Well say whatever else you want to about the strategy it seems to be having some impact. Below is the word cloud from a recent YouGov poll asking "What one word would you use to describe J.D. Vance?":

[Moksha]

Those leaked Project 2025 training videos on how the Trump administration can best dismantle the American government are very unsettling.